Opportunity Information: Apply for USGS 16 FA 0129
Apply for USGS 16 FA 0129
- The DOI-USGS1 in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Notice of Intent" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.808.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 13, 2016 and posted on Apr 13, 2016.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 27, 2016. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $89,050.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education.
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Opportunity Summary:
This Notice of Intent (Funding Opportunity Number USGS 16 FA 0129) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the U.S. Geological Survey (DOI-USGS) focused on translating the science of landscape connectivity into practical, on-the-ground conservation and management decisions. The core theme of the project is "turning the science of connectivity into action" by identifying where there is agreement across different connectivity approaches (consensus models), pinpointing the most important locations that maintain movement and ecological flows (key nodes), and highlighting specific land units that rise to the top for protection, restoration, or management attention (priority parcels). In plain terms, the opportunity is about moving from academic or technical connectivity modeling to actionable priorities that agencies and partners can use to guide real investments and decisions.
The funding is offered as a grant under the Natural Resources activity category, with CFDA number 15.808. The program is structured to make a single award, with an expected award count of 1 and a maximum award amount (award ceiling) of $89,050. The posting and creation dates are April 13, 2016, and the application deadline is April 27, 2016, indicating a short application window typical of targeted, time-sensitive research or synthesis efforts.
Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. That restriction suggests the work is intended to be carried out by universities or similar public academic institutions, likely leveraging research expertise in ecology, conservation biology, landscape ecology, geospatial analysis, and decision support. Because it is presented as a Notice of Intent, it often signals the agency's plan to support a specific scope of work or a limited set of potential applicants, sometimes tied to an existing collaboration, specialized capability, or a defined project need rather than an open, wide competition.
Substantively, the opportunity emphasizes three connected deliverables or outcomes. First, "consensus models" implies a synthesis across multiple connectivity models or scenarios to find areas that consistently emerge as important regardless of modeling method, parameter choices, or species assumptions. This kind of consensus mapping is useful because connectivity analyses can vary widely depending on data and assumptions, and decision-makers often need confidence that identified corridors or hubs are robust rather than artifacts of a single model. Second, "key nodes" points to identifying critical geographic points in a connectivity network, such as stepping-stone habitats, chokepoints, pinch points, or hubs that disproportionately support movement between larger habitat blocks. These nodes are often where management actions can have the biggest impact, either by preventing fragmentation, mitigating barriers, or enhancing habitat quality. Third, "priority parcels" suggests translating those scientific outputs into specific, mappable land units that can be acted upon through acquisition, conservation easements, targeted restoration, or coordinated management, aligning connectivity science with the realities of land ownership and parcel-level decision-making.
Overall, this opportunity supports applied connectivity science with the clear intent of producing decision-ready information. The relatively modest funding level and the expectation of a single award suggest a focused project, likely centered on data integration, modeling synthesis, geospatial prioritization, and production of maps or tools that can directly inform conservation planning. The emphasis on consensus and prioritization indicates the project is not just about generating another connectivity model, but about clarifying agreement, reducing uncertainty for stakeholders, and identifying the highest-value places where actions could preserve or improve landscape connectivity.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is this funding opportunity?
This is a U.S. Geological Survey (DOI-USGS) discretionary grant opportunity described as a Notice of Intent, under Funding Opportunity Number (FON) USGS 16 FA 0129. The focus is on translating landscape connectivity science into practical, on-the-ground conservation and management decisions.
What is the main goal of the project?
The main goal is "turning the science of connectivity into action" by moving from technical connectivity modeling to actionable, decision-ready priorities that agencies and partners can use to guide real investments and management choices.
What does "landscape connectivity" mean in this context?
In this context, landscape connectivity refers to how landscapes support movement and ecological flows across habitat areas. The opportunity emphasizes identifying places that maintain movement and ecological flows and then translating that information into concrete conservation or management priorities.
What types of outcomes or deliverables are emphasized?
The opportunity emphasizes three connected outcomes: consensus models, key nodes, and priority parcels. Together, these are meant to convert connectivity science into specific, mappable, and actionable priorities.
What are "consensus models" as described here?
"Consensus models" refers to synthesizing across different connectivity approaches or scenarios to identify areas that consistently emerge as important. The idea is to find agreement across methods, parameter choices, or assumptions so decision-makers can have more confidence the results are robust.
What are "key nodes" in a connectivity network?
"Key nodes" are the most important locations that support movement and ecological flows, such as stepping-stone habitats, chokepoints, pinch points, or hubs that disproportionately connect larger habitat blocks. These areas can be high-leverage places for management actions.
What are "priority parcels"?
"Priority parcels" are specific land units that rise to the top for protection, restoration, or management attention. The intent is to translate scientific outputs into parcel-level or land-unit-level priorities that align with real-world decision-making and implementation.
What kinds of on-the-ground actions are implied by the term "priority parcels"?
The notice describes priority parcels as places that may be appropriate for protection, restoration, or management attention. Examples mentioned include acquisition, conservation easements, targeted restoration, or coordinated management, depending on the identified needs and opportunities.
Which federal agency is offering the grant?
The grant opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), within the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI).
What is the activity category and CFDA number?
The opportunity is listed under the Natural Resources activity category, with CFDA number 15.808.
How many awards are expected?
The program is structured to make a single award, with an expected award count of 1.
What is the maximum award amount?
The maximum award amount (award ceiling) is $89,050.
Is the funding competitive and broadly open?
Based on the description as a Notice of Intent and the expectation of a single award, the opportunity appears to be targeted and time-sensitive rather than a broad, wide-open competition. The notice format often indicates an agency plan to support a specific scope of work or a limited set of potential applicants.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is limited to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education.
Are private universities eligible?
The eligibility statement provided limits applicants to public and state-controlled institutions of higher education. No additional eligibility categories are listed in the provided information.
When was the opportunity posted, and what is the deadline?
The posting and creation dates are April 13, 2016, and the application deadline is April 27, 2016, indicating a short application window.
What does the short application window suggest about the project?
The short window suggests a targeted, time-sensitive effort, consistent with focused research, synthesis, or decision-support work rather than a long, open solicitation period.
What kinds of work does this funding appear to support?
Based on the description, the funding supports applied connectivity science focused on data integration, modeling synthesis, geospatial prioritization, and producing decision-ready maps or tools that can inform conservation planning and management.
Is the project aimed at producing a new connectivity model?
The emphasis is not on producing "another connectivity model" alone. Instead, the opportunity highlights clarifying agreement across approaches (consensus), identifying critical network locations (key nodes), and translating results into implementable land-unit priorities (priority parcels).
What problem is the project trying to solve for decision-makers?
The project aims to reduce uncertainty created by varying connectivity analyses and provide clearer, higher-confidence priorities. By focusing on consensus and prioritization, the goal is to help stakeholders identify the highest-value places where actions could preserve or improve landscape connectivity.
What is the practical end use of the project results?
The practical end use is decision support: producing actionable priorities and decision-ready information that agencies and partners can use to guide conservation and management investments, such as where to protect, restore, or focus management to maintain connectivity.
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